7 Best Fixed Shade Welding Lens – 2022 Buying Guide and Reviews

If you seek a career related to welding, you must be acquainted with all protective gear. Welding brings hazards like fume, arc, radiation, and bright light. To protect your eyes from this threatening stuff, you should get yourself a welding lens.

There are various types of welding lenses. Among them, the fixed shade welding lens keep their shade level at a fixed number. It means one cannot control or adjust the value of the shade. It will have a certain darkening level always. A fixed shade lens is preferable when you always perform a single welding method within a certain amperage range.

For instance, if you always must make MIG weld on 100 to 150 amp, you only need a fixed shade-11 lens and never need to change it. All these are unlike variable lenses where you can set the shade, depending on your need.

Passive Vs Auto Darkening Welding Lens

Depending on how your welding lenses work, you can divide them into two categories. The auto-darkening welding lenses have sensors for bright light and can automatically darken the view if such light or arcs are detected. As a result, you don’t have to take out your helmet in order to observe your weld puddle.

A passive welding lens is basically a good old fixed shade lens that has a colored glass and always stays darkened. As a result, you need to take your helmet out to see the work you have done. Now there are advantages to both sides.

Auto-darkening lenses come at a higher price, but they make the work a lot easier and faster. You can keep working with your helmet with these lenses. On the other hand, welding with a passive lens is slower, but they offer a clearer view and are more affordable.

Since their glasses are always dark, they are made extra clear compared to auto-darkening ones. Another difference between them is that a passive welding lens can only be a fixed shade welding lens. But an auto-darkening lens can be either a fixed or a variable shade lens.

Best Fixed Shade Welding Lens Reviews 2022

1. Harris Welding Hood Lens

Having two fixed shade lenses in your arsenal is great. The Harris 2 Pieces Welding Hood Lens offers you a pack of two lenses with a fixed shade of 11. Now, you can also find its other versions of 5, 8, 12-14.

The lens has a size of 2 by 4.25 inches. Being a wide one, you can see more surrounding areas and grab a tool if needed. The lens comes at a really affordable price and is easy to install on a helmet. You can fit it on helmets that accept that size.

This lens has a thinner design, weighing only 2.08 oz. As a result, it leaves room to wear a magnifying lens. Keep in mind that if one of the lenses does get scratches, you can immediately move to another. Thus, it will save you more money. It is a great filter plate for beginners and novices alike.

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2. Forney 57054 Lens Replacement Hardened Glass

We present to you the Forney 57054 Lens Replacement Hardened Glass that has the potential of being the best item on this list. This welding lens has a fixed shade-12 that allows you to perform welds with a high amp.

It has a green coating and a size of 4.5 by 5.25 inches. Now that size is a standard one and fits most welding helmets available. Forney excels at creating durable items like this lens. It is from hardened glass, which will last a long time.

The lens can block 99.9% of the harmful UV-A and UV-B radiations. Thus, it is also a great item to use on viewing solar eclipses or solar photography.

Compared to HARRIS 2 Pieces Welding Hood Lens, it has a narrower vision and a standard size. It is also much tougher. But the former comes at a lower price and is lighter.

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3. TW SUPPLY Shade 10 Welding Hood Lens Helmet Filter

The TW Supply 2 Piece Shade-10 Glass Welding Hood Lens has a low price yet a durable body. Created from quality tempered glass, this welding lens can withstand impacts. This item comes in two pieces and will help you for a long time.

To let you have a clear view of the weld area, the fixed welding lens offers a 2× 4 inches size. However, you can also equip it on helmets that allow 2× 4.25 inches too. Anyway, these two lenses have shade-10 darkening that can work with pretty high amp welds.

Obviously, the manufacturers made it available on other fixed shades, including 9, 11, and 12. The welding lenses are not that heavy, and the package will weigh 2.39 oz. It is a gold-coated welding lens, which is excellent at intensive welding processes. The item will be shipped in plastic packaging, which is a downside.

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4. HOUSE Shade 9 Welding Hood Lens

When there is a necessity for a durable yet narrow fixed shade lens, the HOUSE GLASS GOLD Shade Welding Hood Lens is the correct solution. This item may be a bit heavy, but it comes with a strong glass body.

On top of that, the welding lens is suitable for welding helmets that fit 2 by 4.25 inches. Now, most of the helmets on the market match those criteria. This welding lens has a fixed shade of 9. But other versions like shade 11 or 12 exist.

The HOUSE GLASS GOLD Welding Hood Lens arrives with almost similar traits as the TW Supply 2 Piece Shade-10 Glass Welding Hood Lens. But the former has a narrower body that allows you to use magnifying lenses. While the former gives you a bonus lens. The Glass Gold one is a bit lighter. Both have around a similar sturdiness and shape.

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5. ArcOne T240-10 Tradesman Horizontal Auto-Darkening Filter

The ArcOne T240-10 is an auto-darkening fixed shade lens that only darkens to a shade number 10.5. As an auto-darkening lens, it costs much, but you can be sure that it will make your work faster. The lens has a light state of 3, so you can see clearly when not working and work with a pretty high amp when welding.

This welding lens has two sensors that work independently and will react quickly to any bright light. The glass filter can block radiation with different spectrums. It has a size of 2 by 4.25 inches and a thickness of .2 inches. It is an ideal shape for most commercial welding helmets.

The lens is suitable for both household or industrial usage. Compared to the Forney 57054 Lens, this one offers an auto-darkening feature. But the former will grant you a 12 shade, much higher than what ArcOne T240-10 has.

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6. Best Welds Hardened Glass Filter Plate Shade 10

If you are looking for a fixed shade lens that will let you work for a long time without any eye fatigue, pick the Best Welds Hardened Glass Gold Filter Plate. The item is available at a really cheap cost while offering a shade-10 darkening.

Since it has a size of 4.5 by 5.25 inches, you can safely install it on helmets of that criteria. The lens has a high radiation blockage capability and can effectively save your eyes from bright flashings. It is perfect for mid-range amp welding.

It is lightweight and has a blue tint. As a gold welding lens, the product will offer a proper view even on shade 10. But there is a downplay to it too. We found it to be a bit brighter compared to what an actual shade-10 should be. But all in all, it’s an excellent fixed shade lens at a low budget.

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7. Lincoln Electric C-Series Shade 11 Welding Lens

Finally, we have another auto-darkening welding lens that can ease up your work. The Lincoln Electric 2×4 C-Series Auto-Darkening Welding Lens provides a shade-11 DIN, which is suitable for many high amp MIG welding.

Now even though it has a high cost, you should look at the bright side. This lens has a 4C Lens Technology that allows it to remove color saturation, offering a high-quality view. You can basically see the weld puddle, arc, and other things without damaging your eyes a bit.

For its light shade, it has DIN 3. That will let you set up everything without any issue. The lens has a size of 2 × 4.25 inches. Compared to the ArcOne T240-10, it is lighter and more durable. But that other lens has a wider visual area. And ArcOne lens is cheaper too. Meanwhile, Lincoln Electric 2×4 C-Series has a saturation-free view.

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Buyer’s Guide

Before you start looking for a quality fixed shade welding lens, your first and foremost step is to ensure its intended use. Buying an ideal welding lens can take time from researching various matters.

But you can’t help it as taking the wrong item is risky for your eyes and can ruin your experience. In this article, we mentioned some points that will guide you towards a perfect fixed shade lens.

The Fixed Shade Number

The initial and prime factor that distinguishes a fixed shade lens from other lenses is its unchangeable shade number. But we know that different welding takes different DIN (darkening) levels.

Hence, you must only go for a fixed shade lens for a particular welding method. Now, check what amp you need to use for that welding process. You can find charts online that show how much lens DIN you need basing on your welding technique and amp. Get a fixed shade lens with that exact shade number. Otherwise, your total purchase can turn into waste.

Cover on Your Fixed Shade Lens

Whether a fixed shade lens or a variable one, a lens must have a protective cover to save it from any damages. While working in a factory, there are many ways your welding lens can get scratches or stains.

Such things will make render the lens unusable. So, having a cover is mandatory. There are also different cover types- thin or thick layers. Prioritize the thick ones for obvious reasons.

Material of the Fixed Shade Lens

When browsing different fixed shade lenses in the shop, you will find two material types. There are the ones with plastic bodies. The positive side with them is that they are a lot cheaper. But they are more fragile compared to the glass shade lens.

Also, welding glass shade lens can be of different glass types. There is tempered glass, which is a durable material. But lenses from them usually are pretty heavy. Then you can also go for the polycarbonate glass lenses. These lenses have both durability and a light body. Glass shade lenses are generally expensive.

Lens Size

If you are looking for a replacement lens for a previous welding helmet, you should check its lens size before getting a new one. Get a fixed shade lens that fits the helmet. Otherwise, you will have to buy a new helmet for the new lens.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Advantage of a Fixed Shade Welding Lens?

Fixed shade welding lenses feature a clear and better view. So, you can focus on how the weld puddle is forming. They are also much low-cost in comparison to variable welding lenses.

What Fixed Shade Lens for MIG Weld Steel with 170 to 300 Amp?

Based on your welding reason and setup, you should get a fixed shade lens with shade number 12. Since this welding process is a high-amp one, it also requires a darker shade.

Is Shade 10 Good for a Fixed Shade Lens?

Shade 10 is like a standard number for a fixed shade lens. Most of them are available with shade-10, and many popular welding setups require that DIN level too.

Are Plastic Fixed Shade Lenses Bad?

We shouldn’t call them bad. While it is true that glass fixed shade lenses are definitely more durable and long-lasting, plastic ones also have their benefits. A plastic shade lens will be available at a low price, and they are lighter.

Final Note

Finding your desired welding equipment can be exciting. Don’t let this excitement die out by purchasing a low-grade item. A welding lens is a tiny yet necessary part of your welding gears. It protects your eyes from arc-eye and other radiation issues. So, you must only pick a fixed shade lens that is compatible with your welding projects.

Darkening lenses are basically light filters. The darker your lenses are, the more light they can block. And blocking the brightness of the arcs with perfection means that you can make quality welds. So, the lenses also can determine your welding outcome.